General signs of an anxiety disorder include a person endlessly checking or rechecking their actions, a constant and unrealistic worry about everyday occurrences and activities and fear and anxiety that appear for no apparent reason. Physical symptoms include fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, and hot flashes. The sufferer may feel lightheaded or out of breath. They also may feel nauseated or have to go to the bathroom frequently.

The following are specific signs of particular types of anxiety disorder.

Panic disorder: Pounding heart, feeling of numbness, weakness or dizziness, sweaty body, tingling hands, a flushed or chilled sensation. You may have nausea, chest pain or smothering sensations, a sense of unreality, or fear of impending doom or loss of control. You may genuinely believe you're having a heart attack or losing your mind, or on the verge of death.

Obsessive – compulsive disorder: Anxious thoughts or rituals that the sufferer feels they can’t control. The person is plagued by unwelcome thoughts and the need to engage in repetitive rituals, such as washing their hands. The disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions, and the rituals that are performed to try to prevent or get rid of them are called compulsions.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Persistent, frightening thoughts or memories of a terrifying event that results in a feeling of emotional numbness.

Social Phobia: Excessive self consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Physical symptoms associated with this phobia include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea and difficulty speaking.